Summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude are considered Latin honors. In addition to being announced at the graduation ceremony, such awards are documented on the transcript and degree of the student. In order to receive Latin honors, you typically have to maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or better. In some schools, such as Northwestern University and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Latin honors are given only to students with a GPA ranking in the top 15th percentile of their graduating class.
Aside from receiving Latin honors at graduation, individuals also may receive departmental honors. Although the GPA requirement for such honors is typically the same, department honors are based on the program of study that the individual is enrolled in. If, for instance, a graduating senior majoring in English has attained a 3.9 GPA, then he would be eligible for departmental honors in English. Graduating students wishing to obtain honors from their department of study should be aware of the GPA requirements associated with such honors.
Boston University will not award honors to any individual who falls beneath the 3.0 GPA mark during their collegiate years. Even if a student qualifies for summa cum laude based on seven semesters of work, he forfeits such honors if he attains a 2.9 GPA in the eighth semester. Although Boston University appears to be strict with this rule, many colleges and universities have the same hidden rule when delegating honors at graduation.
You cannot expect to receive any honors at graduation without attaining a 3.5 cumulative GPA. In order to maintain such academic excellence, it is best to register for honor classes. Such courses require a minimum GPA of 3.5, so completing them will help you maintain excellent grades. In addition, students should choose courses that are rigorous and feasible. While it is not good to choose courses that do not pose a challenge, it also is not beneficial to select courses that will not bring about success. Freshmen should not enroll in graduate-level courses, and seniors should not register for 100-level introductory classes. Choosing courses wisely will have a positive effect on your overall GPA, and may get you nominated for membership in honor societies that give honorary awards at graduation.